An engineered microorganism(s) with novel pathways for the conversion of short-chain hydrocarbons to fuels and chemicals (e.g. carboxylic acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and their alpha-, beta-, and omega-functionalized derivatives) is described. Key to this approach is the use of hydrocarbon activation enzymes able to overcome the high stability and low reactivity of hydrocarbon compounds through the cleavage of an inert CH bond. Oxygen-dependent or oxygen-independent activation enzymes can be exploited for this purpose, which when combined with appropriate pathways for the conversion of activated hydrocarbons to key metabolic intermediates, enables the generation of product precursors that can subsequently be converted to desired compounds through established pathways. These novel engineered microorganism(s) provide a route for the production of fuels and chemicals from short chain hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, and pentane.

Provided herein are methods for modulating the psilocybin biosynthesis pathway in fungi or other organisms. Also provided are genetically modified fungi and organisms with induced and/or increased expression of psilocybin and psilocin and psilocybin and/or psilocin compositions generated by the provided methods.

Disclosed herein are methods of bioproduction of enantiomerically pure or enantiomerically enriched 2-phenylglycinol or a derivative thereof by multiple enzyme-catalyzed chemical transformations in a one-pot reaction system.

Some embodiments relate to genetically engineered bacterial strains for modulation of levels of the bacterial metabolite 4-ethylphenol (4EP) and its sulfated form, 4-ethylphenyl sulfate (4EPS). In some embodiments, the bacteria reduce or inhibit production of 4EP or 4EPS in the gut of a subject. The bacteria can ameliorate, delay the onset or reduce the likelihood of one or more symptoms associated with anxiety and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the subject.

Microbes are transformed with psilocybin genes under the control of weak or medium level promoter to make low levels of psilocybin therein. Low dose, microdose and sub-microdose foodstuff are then made with such microbes.

Transgenic host cells, vectors useful for making transgenic host cells, and kits useful for making transgenic host cells are described. Also described are transgenic plants. In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (4HPAAS). In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a tyrosol:UDP-glucose 8-O-glucosyltransferase (T8GT). The transgenic host cells are useful for biosynthesis of one or more of salidroside, icariside D2, tyrosol, and 4-hydroxypenylacetaldehyde.

The present invention provides for a method for producing isoprene and/or 1,4-dimethylcyclooctane (DMCO), the method comprising: (a) producing isoprenol (3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol) biologically; (b) recovering the isoprenol via gas stripping; (c) dehydrating the isoprenol into isoprene; and, (d) optionally converting the isoprene into DMCO.

A DNA expression construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding an unnatural UstD enzyme, the unnatural enzyme itself, and a method of making gamma-hydroxy amino acids by contacting an aldehyde-containing substrate, an amino acid, and the unnatural, purified UstD enzyme under conditions and for a time sufficient to react at least a portion of the aldehyde-containing substrate with at least a portion of the amino acid, to yield a gamma-hydroxy amino acid product.

A method for the in vivo production of 1,3-butadiene from 2,4-pentadienoate is described (FIG. 1). Enzymes capable of decarboxylating 2,4-pentadienoate to 1,3-butadiene have been discovered. Recombinant expression of these newly discovered enzymes has resulted in the engineering of microorganisms capable of producing 1,3-butadiene when cultured in the presence of 2,4-pentadienoate. 1,3-butadienoate is an important monomer used in the manufacturing of rubbers and plastics. This invention will help to enable the biological production of 1,3-butadiene from renewable resources such as sugar, for example.

Described are 3-methylcrotonic acid decarboxylase (MDC) variants showing an improved activity in converting 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene as well as methods for the production of isobutene using such enzyme variants.